We may not often think about it, but the shoulder is one of the most important joints in our entire body. The shoulder is one of the largest and most complex structures and is in near constant use. From signing your name to swinging a golf club, your shoulder is a key player in almost everything we do.
We wanted to take a moment to welcome you to our new blog. Twin Cities Pain & Regenerative Medicine is a leader in pain management in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area, and we hope to use our blog to educate our present and future patients about the innovative field of regenerative medicine. But first we thought it might be a good idea to answer a few questions surrounding this growing alternative to surgery.
What is Regenerative Medicine?
The field of regenerative medicine is not new. In fact, the first successful bone marrow transplant occurred in New York City in 1956. Just two years prior to that the first successful kidney transplant was completed. After decades of advancements, today’s regenerative medicine focuses on cell biology and immunology. These advancements have led a whole new world of regenerative therapies, including stem cell therapy and Platelet Rich Plasma therapy.
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cell therapy is a rapidly developing segment of regenerative medicine. Stem cell therapy is a natural way for the body to repair itself in which a patient’s own cells are used to help neutralize inflammation and accelerate healing in damaged tissue. Stem cells have the ability to regenerate injured or damaged cartilage tissue, tendons, bone, muscle, ligaments and vertebral annular disc cartilage.
Stem cell therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that often does not require a hospital visit and can be completed right in our Edina office. The process begins by harvesting a patient’s stem cells found in bone marrow. The cells are then concentrated into a injectable amount and injected to the problem area.
Patients may consider stem cell therapy if they:
- Have back pain and wish to avoid surgery
- Have had back surgery and are still experiencing pain
- Have a nagging sports injury
- Have pain due to arthritis
- Are a candidate for joint replacement surgery
What is Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy?
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is another growing segment of the regenerative medicine field. In this therapy a patient’s own blood is used to regenerate tissue. After a small amount of blood is obtained from the patient it is spun in a centrifuge to allow for the concentration of growth factors and anti-inflammatory proteins in the plasma. That blood is then injected into the area of injury for potentially permanent healing.
Advantages to PRP therapy includes its: safety, cost, healing time, minimal invasiveness and all natural healing qualities. Patients who suffer the following symptoms benefit from PRP therapy:
- Lumbar disc disease
- Degenerative disc disease
- Ligament sprains or tears
- Arthritis joint pain
- Tendonitis
- Partial tendon tears
- Nerve inflammation
- Plantar fasciitis
About Twin Cities Pain and Regenerative Medicine
Dr. Constantin Starchook is the director of Twin Cities Pain and Regenerative Medicine. He is a board certified Anesthesiologist with over 15 years of medical practice. He is a leader in the field of regenerative medicine in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and is one of only a few doctors in the area delivering stem cell and platelet rich plasma therapies to patients suffering from back and joint pain. Dr. Starchook has consistently been named a Top Doctor in Minnesota and is now accepting new patients. Contact us if you are seeking an alternative to painful and invasive surgery!